That’s a Wrap

January 6, 2017

Today I just want you to tap into your memory store and think back to the year 2016…back to the post in which I introduced this new and improved dresser:You can get all the details on its new paint job if you click here but if you want to go inside, keep reading. I decided that adding some glam in the form of a gold dip wasn’t enough so I took it one step further and lined all of the drawers with some gold dotted wrapping paper by Sugar Paper that I found at Target for $6. (PS, I found it in the Christmas section but I’m hoping it wasn’t just part of a Christmas collection so that anyone who wants to follow suit can go grab some!)

I’ll tell you all about it, the good and the bad, but first, let me tell you how hard Sugar Paper made this decision for me. Their papers are gorgeous! I choose a gold dot because I thought it would appeal to more buyers since I was going to sell the dresser but, if it were my own dresser, I probably would’ve went with the black and gold feathers on the gray backgroud (which, btw, would look amazing in Grace’s dresser) and if I we were keeping the dresser for the girls, I would’ve went with the colorful striped paper on the right. So fun you guys! <3

But there will always be more dresser drawers to line I’m sure, so let’s move on to the how on the current ones.

Measuring

Before you line your drawers with whatever paper you’ve got, you’ll have to measure each drawer to figure out how much paper you’ll need. Stating the obvious, I know. You can grab the old ruler or tape measure and write down measurements or you can do it the easy way. :)

The easy way consists of grabbing a few sheets of computer paper, scrap paper, and/or used coloring book paper and laying it all out inside the drawer so that it overlaps, thereby making a template.Making sure the paper is covering every square inch of the bottom of the drawer, tape it all together along the seams.If you have any drawers that are the same size, just make sure the template you just made fits inside all of them. (I made this template inside the top drawer and hooray, it fit inside the next two drawers down too!) Chances are, it will fit just fine. On the rare occasion that the drawers are a smidge different, just make another template.

So easy, right?

Next, place your template on the wrapping paper, trace, and cut it out. (Note: Turn your template upside down and trace it on the underside of the paper so that there are no pencil/marker marks on the top of the paper that might be seen.)(It helps to place something semi-heavy on top of your template as you trace to keep it from shifting, hence the ink cartridge package.)

Template (if necessary for different-sized drawers), trace, cut and repeat until you have all of the pieces of paper needed.

Papering

As far as adhering the paper to your drawer, there are a few ways to do it. For a more temporary lining, you can just use double-sided tape at six-or-so inch intervals around the perimeter of the drawer to stick it down. Then simply pull it up when you want a change. For a more durable lining, I used some satin modge podge I nabbed on clearance. Nevermind the sponge brush though. I took this picture before I started which was also before I realized how much I hate sponge brushes. Just grab a small paintbrush instead.

Ok, here’s where things got a little dicey for me. I’m just telling you so you know what NOT to do.

DON’T brush the modge podge onto the entire bottom of the drawer and then proceed to lay down your template. It doesn’t matter how much painstaking effort you exert to lay out the paper so that there are no air bubbles and wrinkles, they will probably come. Think they’ll disappear once everything dries? Nope, think again. And then hold back tears as you rip out and waste a beautiful piece of fairly expensive wrapping paper.So maybe that’s a little dramatic but I can assure you, the frustration was real.

Now, let’s skip over to the greener grass. Here’s what you SHOULD DO.

Before you even think about laying the paper into the drawer, grab some clear acrylic or laquer spray and spray the back of each piece of paper. This will form a nice barrier between the modge podge and paper; the modge podge won’t saturate the paper causing it to get all soggy and wrinkly. (Random note: I used this Krylon clear acrylic I had on hand and look how *not*clear it sprayed! It’s a couple of years old so maybe it yellows over time when kept in the can but I guess I was just glad I wasn’t using it to spray something I wanted a clear coat on! I didn’t have much left in this can so I also used some clear spray laquer and that was still clear despite being a couple of years old too. Moral of the story, buy the laquer instead of the acrylic.)

I sprayed all of my pieces of paper one-by-one and then set them out flat to dry. Once they were all dry, I went back to lining the drawers.

First, I laid the piece of paper in the bottom of the drawer so that it was exactly where it needed it to be. Then, to hold it in place, I grabbed the kids’ pencil box (because it was the closest thing) and set it on one half of the paper to hold the whole piece in place. Next, I folded one half of the paper over so that I could brush modge podge onto one half of the drawer bottom.And then I slowly folded/rolled the paper back down over the modge podge from the middle to the far edge. It helped to grab a washcloth and rub it as I went.

See? No wrinkles!Once that side was done, I moved the pencil box to the other side and repeated.I wish I hand one more hand to catch a video of how I did this but with the washcloth, I just rubbed up and down across the paper as I was laying it down.I let all of the papered drawers dry overnight and the next day, I went in and brushed a thin layer of modge podge over the top of each piece. I was a little nervous that this would take away the shine of the gold so I held my breath but phew!…once the modge podge dried, the paper looked just like it did pre-modge podge.

I LOVE the added beauty the lined drawers bring to the dresser!It was definitely worth the extra steps to use this paper. It’s the perfect compliment to the dresser’s paint job! If you’re not in the mood to deal with paper to line drawers, check out this post on how to line drawers with fabric!

Also, you might remember that behind the doors on each side of the dresser, there are a couple of shelves that I set storage baskets on. I made paper templates and cut out wrapping paper to line the shelves with but then I decided against papering them. I was too afraid that, when sliding in the baskets, the paper at the front edge of the shelf might catch on the basket being slid and rip.

But then I had those rectangles of paper laying around. I could’ve saved them to wrap small presents but instead I stuck one inside our to-do list frame……and the three others went into the three frames hanging in the living room, specifically because I thought they’d be pretty behind the wreaths I hung on each for Christmas.Which brings me to a tangent…Christmas decor. The weeks leading up to Christmas were super busy here so not much seasonal decorating happened here. :(

The plans I had to make Gianna a stocking never happened.And thankfully she’s too young to care this year anyway.

The rest of the decor was quick and simple.

I had a hankering to hang wreaths on the picture frames mentioned above so I grabbed some faux garland from the dollar store, unwrapped it to ruffle it up a little, and then wrapped it back up into a wreath shape.Then I grabbed some red glittery ribbon I also got at the dollar store and hung those wreaths. I also used some of the leftover strips of paper to disguise this almost-empty candle as a vase:I’ve still got a small piece left and I’m thinking I might wrap a book with it. It’s really hard to toss pretty pieces of leftover paper, ya know? Haha!

Anyway, that’s my drawer plus wrapping paper experience. Have you ever lined anything with wrapping paper or any other paper? If so, how’d you come out in the wrinkle department? Maybe it was just me or maybe you had the same problem. And maybe you’ve never lined any drawers but are now eyeing all the dresser in the house. I know I am. ;)

Why hello! I rarely comment since it is ridiculously difficult to do so on my phone, while holding a baby (which is when I always read the blogs I follow). #momlife haha! But, I had to hop over to our computer just to comment today! Thank you so much for this tutorial! I have a friend who has been redoing furniture to sell, and she has been so stumped for how to beautifully and economically line drawers. Designer contact paper is EXPENSIVE. I'll definitely be forwarding this to her!

Our drawers could definitely use a nice lining, too... I've scored every one of our six dressers (is that too many dressers??) on Craigslist or at garage sales. All of the drawers are just blah on the inside... I'll have to add this to my project list as well. Maybe I'll get to it in 2018? ;)

I wanted to add that I, too, did not get around to sewing Edie a stocking this year. Santa had to stuff my stocking for her. I kept thinking that I'd get to it, even up to three days before Christmas. I must have been delusional.

Also, I am totally copying your wrapping paper in frames with the dollar store garland for next Christmas. The frames above our mantle were seriously lacking this year, but I was so perplexed as to how to "Christmas-ify" them without spending too much money.

I always love reading your posts, and it makes me want to get my act together and start a blog myself. But, that would mean Kyle would have to get over his extreme privacy needs. I'm lucky he doesn't really "get" Instagram! Ha!!

Whoa Lauren! I feel like I have thee worst luck when it comes to being the first to call dibs on a thrift store or craigslist dresser so the fact that you have six is amazing!! Haha! Thank you for the long comment! I loved it! I know exactly what you mean about commenting while holding a baby...it's usually a no-go for me too. I feel 1009 times better that I'm not alone in not getting the baby her stocking! I can't wait to see your wreathed frames next year!A blog! Yes! You'd have a reader in me!!! :)

C'mon, this isn't all about me! I'd love to know your thoughts too! It's a two-way-street-kinda-blog over here. :D If your comment is linked to your email, I'll hit you up there. If not, check back! I always try my best to respond!

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